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Buy Laticrete 253 GOLD multipurpose thinset mortar (White or Grey, 50 lb) at Tile Pro Depot. Recommended when the demands and budget for your installation require a superior product but not maximum performance characteristics!
GREENGUARD Certified (Low VOC) • Made in USA • 10-Year System Warranty • Exceeds ANSI A118.4 & A118.11 • ISO 13007-1 (C2) Compliant
Price range: $19.80 through $26.40
Item No.: 0253-0050-21
attribute_pa_color_finish: grey-50-lbs
Item No.: 0253-0050-22
attribute_pa_color_finish: white-50
Qualifies For
Tile Pro Depot offers a superior quality thin-set powder called Laticrete 253 GOLD multipurpose thinset mortar. It goes well with many kinds of substrate. 253 Gold is a superior polymer fortified bagged thin-set powder to be mixed with water to install ceramic tile and stone using the thin-set method of installation. 253 Gold is designed for use in interior and exterior floor and wall installations of all types of ceramic tiles, porcelain tile and stone over concrete, exterior glue plywood (interior only) and a variety of substrates.
Laticrete 253 GOLD is a polymer-fortified, cementitious thin-set mortar built for tile setters and DIY installers who need dependable bond strength without paying for a premium, large-format-rated system. Mixed with water only, it installs ceramic tile, porcelain tile, and natural stone over concrete, cement backer board, properly prepared plywood subfloors, and a wide range of other substrates, indoors or out.
The real advantage over a basic unmodified thinset is bond-strength margin. 253 GOLD tests at 350–450 psi shear strength after 28 days — well above the 200 psi ANSI A118.4 minimum — so it holds up under real jobsite variability rather than just squeaking past code. If a project needs a mortar rated for continuous submersion (pools, fountains, water features), step up to Laticrete 254 Platinum; 253 GOLD is not designed for submerged applications.
Available in Grey for standard ceramic and porcelain tile work, and White for light-colored marble and natural stone, both ship in 50 lb bags.
Not for use directly over particle board, luan, Masonite®, or hardwood floors. Consult local building codes for veneer installations.
Yes. 253 GOLD is designed for both interior and exterior floor and wall installations of ceramic tile, porcelain tile, and stone.
Use approximately 5.5 qt (5.2 L) of clean, potable water per 50 lb (22.7 kg) bag. For smaller batches, use a 7:2 ratio of powder to water.
Wait a minimum of 24 hours at 70°F (21°C) before grouting.
Open time is 60 minutes; pot life is 4 hours once mixed.
No. 253 GOLD is not rated for submerged applications like pools or fountains. For submerged installations, use Laticrete 254 Platinum instead.
It can be used over exterior glue plywood (interior use only) when installed to Laticrete’s plywood subfloor specifications. It should not be used directly over particle board, luan, Masonite®, or hardwood floors.
Approximately 80–95 sq ft with a 1/4″ x 1/4″ notched trowel, or 60–70 sq ft with a 1/4″ x 3/8″ notched trowel, per 50 lb bag.
Both are the same polymer-fortified formula. White is recommended under white or light-colored marble/natural stone; Grey is typically used for standard ceramic and porcelain tile installations.
Yes. It exceeds ANSI A118.4 and A118.11 shear-bond-strength requirements and meets ISO 13007-1 (C2).
Two years in the original, unopened plastic bag. High humidity will shorten shelf life, so store bags off the ground in a dry area.
To determine approximate delivery time for your order shipped via UPS Ground, please locate the zone where the Ship-To address for your order is located. Note the color of that zone then check the number of days listed next to the color in the Transit Days Chart on the bottom right of the Zone Map. Please note that the delivery time is calculated beginning the day after your order has shipped.
Surface and ambient temperature should be between 40°F (4°C) and 90°F (32°C). The substrate must be structurally sound, clean, and free of dirt, oil, grease, paint, and curing compounds or sealers. Rough concrete should be smoothed first. New concrete slabs must be damp-cured and at least 28 days old before installation.
Add 253 GOLD to approximately 5.5 qt (5.2 L) of clean water per 50 lb (22.7 kg) bag (use a 7:2 powder-to-water ratio for smaller batches). Mix by hand or with a slow-speed mixer to a smooth, trowelable consistency. Let the mortar slake for 5–10 minutes, then remix without adding more water or powder. Do not temper with water once mixed.
Key the mortar into the substrate with the flat side of the trowel, then comb it with the correctly sized notched side (see Coverage & Trowel Guide above). Spread only as much mortar as can be tiled within 15–20 minutes. Back-butter any tile larger than 8″ x 8″ for full bedding and support.
Place tiles into the wet mortar and move them back and forth perpendicular to the trowel ridges to collapse them and achieve full contact. Periodically pull a tile to check mortar transfer on the back; if the mortar has skinned over, remove it and apply fresh mortar.
Allow a minimum of 24 hours of cure time at 70°F (21°C) before grouting. Grout with SPECTRALOCK PRO Premium Grout, SPECTRALOCK PRO Grout, PERMACOLOR Select, or PERMACOLOR Grout.
Clean tools and any excess mortar from tile faces with water while the mortar is still fresh.
| Property | Result | ANSI Minimum |
| Porcelain Tile Shear Strength (28-Day) — ANSI A118.4 | 350–450 psi (2.4–3.1 MPa) | > 200 psi (1.4 MPa) |
| Porcelain Tile Shear Strength, Water Immersion | 200–250 psi (1.4–1.7 MPa) | > 150 psi (1.03 MPa) |
| Quarry Tile to Plywood Shear Strength (28-Day) — ANSI A118.11 | 190–240 psi (1.3–1.6 MPa) | > 150 psi (1.03 MPa) |
| Open Time | 60 minutes | — |
| Pot Life | 4 hours | — |
| Time to Heavy Traffic | 24 hours | — |
| Wet Density | 12.6 lb/gal (1.5 g/mL) | — |
| VOC Content | 0.00 g/L | — |
| Shelf Life | 2 years, unopened (high humidity shortens shelf life) | — |
| Trowel Size | Coverage per 50 lb Bag |
| 1/4″ x 1/4″ (6mm x 6mm) square-notch | 80–95 sq ft (7.4–8.8 m²) |
| 1/4″ x 3/8″ (6mm x 9mm) square-notch | 60–70 sq ft (5.6–6.5 m²) |
| 1/4″ x 3/16″ (6mm x 5mm) — for STRATA_MAT installs | 110–120 sq ft (10.2–11.1 m²) |
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